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SAINT LOUIS – Saint Louis leading scorer Kwamain Mitchell scored 17 of his game high 19 points in the second half as he helped the Billikens (9-4) pull away for a 60-42 win over Eastern Illinois (7-5) on Tuesday night at Chaifetz Arena.

Eastern Illinois was held scoreless until the 10:46 mark of the first half but was able to stay within reach as Saint Louis could only build a 13-0 lead with Brian Conklin scoring four early points.

Edin Suljic scored EIU's first bucket which seemed to open the flood gates as Romain Martin drained back-to-back 3-pointers as the Panthers used a 14-2 run to close to within 15-14 at the 5:34 mark as Suljic converted by running the floor following a long rebound.

Tyler Laser pulled EIU to within one point at 17-16 at 3:22 before SLU closed the half with a 10-2 run. Justin Jordan hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final 47 seconds as he was one of three Billiken players to score six first half points. Suljic and Martin led EIU with six first half points.

The Billikens used Jordan's 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first half as a spark as for the second half as they used a 7-1 run out of the locker room to blow open the contest and lead 34-19 at the 17:50 mark on a Mitchell 3-pointer.

EIU would use the hot hand of Shaun Pratl as they worked to get back in the contest. After falling behind 39-23, Pratl scored the next nine points for the Panthers as they closed to 40-29 following a Pratl three point play. Mitchell would answer with a 3-pointer as EIU never got closer than 12 points down the stretch.

The Panthers were limited to just 30 percent shooting hitting 17-of-57 from the field. Pratl and Laser each finished with 11 points to lead EIU.

Willie Reed added 11 points for SLU as the Billikens blocked ten shots with Reed swatting away three. Cory Remekun had a team-high three.

EIU will return to action on Saturday as they host Jacksonville State in Ohio Valley Conference action at 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena.